December was a slow reading month. The death of my mother-in-law the day before Thanksgiving threw us through a loop and in the midst I was plagued with a heavy dose of bronchitis that lasted weeks, in fact, almost the entire month of December. Full recovery just in these past few days, although that nagging cough hung on for dear life in a weakened body that desperately wanted to kick it to the curb and slam the door in its face. Unfortunately, my weakened immune system is dealing with another problem area.
And, this is why, although I came close to finishing the year reaching my goal of 120 Books in 2019 - I, however, did not. Somehow, though, I am totally okay with this unexpected development. I guess, because I know it wasn't because I simply stopped reading, for laziness, or television, or some other activity that takes me away. Besides, I came super close!
This is what I read in December:
If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey. This was a re-read of one of my favorite non-fiction books from 2018 and it did not disappoint reading it again. Jamie takes us through her conversion and her true conversion and she is extremely real and honest in sharing her struggles, her sin, and how God met her right where she was at. Beautiful writing and beautiful words. 111/120
A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg. Our December book club selection (I was the only one that did not finish it by book club:( but I finished it soon-after and adore it. Think the very best of a Hallmark movie. It is sweet and all the characters are well fleshed out and endearing. 112/120
Because of Christmas by Max Lucado. This was Jeff and I's last book of the year reading a-loud together in the morning. It reads like an Advent for Christmas devotional and was an easy read and enjoyable in true Max Lucado form. 113/120
The Christmas Shoes by Donna VanLiere. My mom brought this book, along with the others in the series, that she had found at a book bazaar, thinking I would enjoy another Christmas book. I decided to read The Christmas Shoes because it was on my book clubs potential reads in December (although not selected). It was another gentle, sweet, and beloved story. The shoes in the story are obscure, yet important for the ending. 114/120
Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. Okay, this one was not what I expected at all! Loved it none-the-same. I expected the how to digital minimalism but Newport affords us the who, what, and why of digital minimalism in an engaging, yet intellectual endeavor. 115/120